Marker-shell



H. I. NICHOLS.

MARKER SHELL.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.I5, |919. 1,394,335., Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

j.; l] "I" W H. J. NICHOLS.

MARKER SHELL.

APPLICATION FILED DEc.15, |919.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- H. 1. NICHOLS.

MARKER SHELL.

I AFPUCATION HLED DEC.15, |9|9L 1,394,335. Patented Oct. 18, 19M.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- .34K PV L|||| j wwe/"Hey UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARKER-SHELL.

Specification of Letters atcnt.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

Application filed December 15, 1919. Serial No. 345,163.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY J. NICHOLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at lllashington, District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvementsv in llflarker-Sliells, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in projectiles and more particularly t0 type now known as marker shells. rlhese shells after being fired and upon striking the surface of a body of water or shortly thereafter discharge intact a body of chemicals adapted to produce a signalsuch as a light or a body of smoke, according to the type of chemical used. For example, a light would be desirable at night wli'ile a smoke cloud would be preferable in daylight. By varying the chemical compound both light and smoke maybe obtained.

This type of projectile is of particular value in military and naval operations in marking or identifying a spot where a proj ectile falls thus serving as a guide or point of origin while 'maneuvering The shell is of particular value in connection with the usual fire control to mark the point where the projectile strikes, or for intelligence purposes, or to illuminate or obscure by smoke the area circumjacent to the spot where the projectile strikes ,thereby re vealing or obscuring, as desired, the vessels or other bodies within such area.

It is, of course, obvious to those skilled in the art that various other objects and advantages may be obtained by a projectile `of this character in its use against hostile vessels, batteries, aircraft or other military forces.

Projectiles of this genera-l character heretofore suggested have employed certain chemicals associated with an explosive whereby when the projectile strikes the Water the entire container explodes through theagency of a fuse, detonator or the like thereby liberating the chemicals after the shell has penetrated the water in which case the chemicals either sink without functioning or if they do function such takes place in small isolated quantities making a signal invisible at any material distance and of relatively shortduration.

It is, therefore, one of the objects of the y present invention to overcome the objections above recited and to provide a simple and practical construction which will enable the that objects of the marker shell to be realized in i a reliable manner when suitably employed.

Broadly speaking, the invention provides means of ejecting a chemical or assembly intact, which assembly will be hereinafter referred to as the marker, whereby the production of the signal, illumination, or smoke will be highly effective in use and operation. Other objects will be in part obvious and in. part hereinafter pointed out in connection with the accompanying drawings which show one of the various possible modifications of the invention and wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts. In these drawings, Figure 1 -is a longitudinal view of a prod jectile embodying the improvements and principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the front part of the shell showing the device employed to prevent rebound orricocheting of the projectile when striking the Water.

' Fig. 3 is a detail view of the front end of the marker, and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and more particularly Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 1 designates the body'portion of my improved shell or projectile, said body being hollow as shown; and being provided with a base plug 2, detachably secured thereto in any desired way, as, for example, by two or more shear pins 3, as shown. l

'The front end of the shell body 1 is closed by the igniter 4, secured thereto in any desired way, as, for example, by the screw thread connection shown.

One of the main features of my invention resides in the means and constructions that are provided to prevent the shell from rebounding or ricocheting when first striking water, without at the same -time increasing 'the air resistance ofthe projectile. For the successful employmentof signal projectiles .of the character described, it is neccessary for the projectile to4 operate at the point where it iirst strikes the water, and if the projectile ricochets the signal may be ejected in the air at somedistance from the point where the projectile first struck. It is also important that the air resistance be not increased in order that the projectile may be constructed to follow the trajectories of the usual types of projectiles with ogival points,

since projectiles of the character described herein are often employed in conjunction with the usual types of shell. The usual forms of blunt nose non-ricocheting projectiles have greater air resistance than projectiles of the usual form and, therefore, follow a different trajectory and are for lthis reason less desirable but may be used under certain circlunstances-` The means above referred to comprise the application to the front o r upper part of the shell body 1 of a truncated cone, or truncated ogive, as shown.. The truncated portion of the shell body is recessed to receive the fuse igniter et, previouslydescribed. The igniter 4 is constructed to*`- form with the sliell'a flat surface without projections and perpendicular to the axis of the projectile. To the fiat surface so formed a disk 5 is secured by one or more screws 6 (2 being shown in present embodiment of my invention). ,To the disk 5, which is threaded on the periphery, is screwed a light cap or false point 7, which in the present embodiment is shown ogival in shape, though other conoidal shapes might be employed if desired.

The interior of the shell body 1, which is cylindrical in shape, contains the marker composed of a float 8, which I prefer to be of wood, with a base plate 9 and attached to the oat in any way desired, as for example, by screws, of which two are shown in the drawing, said base plate closes the cylindrical cavity in the float 8 and acts as ballast to hold the float 8 in an upright position when floating. The cylindrical cavity in the float 8 is filled with a pyroteclinic mixture 10, substantially as shown.

Another feat-ure of my invention resides in the' means provided for igniting the pyrotechnic mixture after the marker has been ejected and after it rises to the surface. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited in this respect, since because of the various uses of the projectile described various chemical mixtures may be employed, some of which may be ignited directly by the igniter and others by t ie action of air after reaching the surface. The means just referred to comprise the cap 11 attached'to the float 8 by metal nails or other suitable means, and having a circular opening at the center and a recess into which the obturator 12 is pressed. The periphery of the obturator 12 is formed to tit closely the indentation in the cap when seated therein, and forms a gas tight joint therewith. The obturator 12 further incases and holds the time fuse 13. The cap 11 which fits tightly over the top of the float 8 prevents the gases under` pressure of theejection charge 14 from entering the interior of the marker or the pores in the float 8, which would cause the float 8 to bind in the shell and to. be damaged when ejected.

Above the marker is the ejection charge 14, which I prefer to have in the form of a Y ring of con'ipressed black powder.I Surrounding t'he ejection charge 14, and between the cap 11 and thel shell body 1 is a cushion 15 of feltporl the like, to lessen the shock on the marker when the shell strikes. Likewise, acushion 16 is placed between the base plate 9 and the base plug 2 to lessen the shock on the marker when the projectile is fired and when the marker is ejected. A

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings, the operation of myv improved projectile is as follows On striking the water the false cap 7 and the attached disk 5 are detached from the projectile when the screws 6 are severed by the force of the impact of the projectile and the water. The screws 6 are preferably constructed witha breaking groove 17 at the juncture of the shell body 1 and the disk 5, as shown in Fig. 2. In any case, the screws 6 should be of such size and material that they would break instead of the screw connection 18. The breaking away ofthe cap 7 and the attaching disk 5 after severing of the screws 6 leaves a fiat surface at the end of the shell, this flat surface having preferably 50 to 60 per cent. of the area of the shell at 'its largest transverse section, which occurs at the part technically known as the bourrelet. The projectile when so constructed will not be deflected lby the water, nor will it ricochet, but will penetrate the water.

As kthe shell enters the water the igniter 4 operates to ignite the ejection charge 14, the igniter being constructed to function in this way, as is commonly practised and well understood. The gases generated by the ejection charge 14 aft-er being ignited exert great pressure on the cap 1l of the marker, this pressure being transmitted by the marker to the base plug 2 tending to force it to the rear. At the Same time the time fuse 13 is ignited by the igniter 4 and the ejection charge 14 and begins to burn. The shear pins 3 not being strong enough to restrain the force exerted by the powder gases are severed and the base plate 2, cushion 16;

and marker are ejected from the shell body. As soon as the marker is free of t-he shell it ascends to the surface of the water by rea-y son of the buoyancy imparted to it by the float 8. Shortly after arriving at the surface the pyrotechnic mixture 10 is ignited by the time fuse 13, whose length of burning is chosen to produce this result. The

When a pyrotechnic mixture is employed which burns so actively when ignited that it is not extinguished by submergence under water, the ejection charge 14, the obturator 12, and the time fuse 13, described above,

may be .dispensed with, in which case the' gases generated by the burning pyrotechnic mixture may be utilized for ejecting the marker.

It will thus be seen that I have invented and provided means for ejecting the pyrotechnic charge from the projectile and of protecting it from the damaging or extinguishing eil'ect of the surrounding water into which it is projected with great violence; bringing it intact to the surface, where it is ignited under advantageous conditions 'and have given the products of combustion egress to the surrounding atmosphere, where they may "produce a visible signal or other effects, thereby accomplishing the objects sought in an eflicient and reliable manner.

In the modified form of my invention, as shown in Fig. 4, 30 designates a hollow sli-ell body which is provided with a base plug 31 detachably secured to the shell body 30 by shear vpins 32. Theshell body is formed with one or more ducts or channels 33, disposed longitudinally, or inclined to thexlongitudinal, communicating with a pressure chamber 34, within the shell body 30. The interior of the shell contains a circular piston 35, and a marker 36. The marker 36 is composed of suitable chemicals for producing smoke or flame` or both, said chemicals being in the solid, liquid or gaseous state as may be preferred, for producing the military or naval objects of the shell, it being essential that the material or combination of materials and parts be light enough .in weight to float on the water after the marker has been discharged from the shell. It is also preferable that the marker have the quality of being ignited through chemical action to produce flame or smoke or both.

It will be evident that when the projectile strikes the water, the waterente-rs the chamber 34. abov-e the piston 35, through the channel or channels 33 provided for this purpose. This water is under great pressure due to the relative velocity of the shell and the body of water into which it is plnged and exerts a strong force toward the rear or base of the projectile. being transmitted from-the piston 35 to the base plug 31 by the material of the marker 36 severs the shear pins 32 and forces out the base plug 31 after which the marker 36 is ejected. The marker 36 thus being ejected from the base of the shell and being lighter than water,.rises to the ysurface where it ignites and burns producing a brilliant flame or a large quantity of smoke, whereby the objects of th-e invention are accomplished.

Metallic sodium is the preferable chemi This force solidliqu1d or gaseous are suitable for obtaining` the objects of the present invention.

While the accompanyingdrawings illustrate what I believe to be the preferred einbodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but that various changes may be made in the construction, arrangements and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope ofthe invention asV defined in the appended claims.

Wha-t I claim is 1 In a projectile of the character described, in combination, a shell, a detachable base, a floating` chemical marker, and means for ejecting this marker rearwardly from the shell on striking the water comprising an igniter and an ejection charge whereby the gases generated by the explosive after being ignited will constitute a means for ejecting the marker from the shell. 2. In a projectile ofthe character described, in combination, a shell, a detachable base, a chemical marker to float on the water, means for ejecting this marker rearwardly from the shell, comprising an igniter and an ejection charge, and means for protecting the marker from the effects of the eXplosive.

3. In a projectile ofthe character described, in combination, a shell, a detachable base, a chemical marker to float on the water, means for ejecting this marker rearwardly from the shell, comprising an igniter and an ejection charge, and means for protecting the marker from the effects of the explosive on ignition of the ejection charge including a'metal cap carried by the marker adjacent the ejection charge.

4. In a projectile of the! character described, in combination, a shell, a detachable scribed, in combination, a shella detachable 4 base, a floating chemical marker, an ejection charge in the form of a ring between the front of the projectile andthe marker, and means for protecting the marker fr'om the effects of the ejection charge and securing its ignition including a protecting cap carried by the marker adjacent the ejection charge, a time fuse of short duration associated with the marker and said ejectionr charge, and an obturator seated in said protecting cap and incasing said' time fuse.

6. In a projectile of the character described, in combination, a shell, a detachable base, a chemical markerr within said shell,

-means for ejecting said marker rearwardly from the shell, and means for insuring operation of the marker at the point where the projectile first strikes the water.

In a projectile of the character described, in combination, a shell, a detachable base, a chemical marker Within said shell, means for ejecting said marker rearwardly from the shell, and means for insuring operation of the marker at the point where the projectile lirst strikes the water comprising a detachable ogival at the forward end of the shell, said detachable ogival comprising in part a cap fitting over a truncated conoidal shape terminating in a flat surface free from vprojections and including an area of 50 to 60 per cent. of the area of the transverse section of the shell.

8. In a projectile of the character described, in combination, a shell, a detachable base, a marker, means for ejecting this Amarker rearwardly from the shell intact, and

means for insuring operation of the marker at the point where theprojectile first strikes the water and lessening the air resistance of the shell including a light metal cap detachably secured to the shell.

9. A marker projectile including a shell body, a marker to float on the water and means for ejecting the marker rearwardly from said body when the projectile strikes the water.

10. A marker projectile including a shell body, a detachable base, a marker to float on the water, and means for ejecting said marker rearwardly from said body with said detachablebase when the projectile strikes the water.

l1. A marker projectile including a shell body, a detachable base, an assembly to ioat on the Water, and means for detaching the base and ejecting said assembly intact from said body when the projectile strikes. the water.

Signed at Washington, District of Columbia, this first day of October, 1919. I

HARRY J. NICHOLS. 

